Dominica among the slowest growing populations in Caribbean

View of Roseau, the capital of Dominica
View of Roseau, the capital of Dominica

Dominica’s population is among the slowest growing in the Caribbean, a report from the World Bank has revealed.

The report, which studied average population growth from 2000 to 2012, showed that the island’s population grew by an average of 0.2 percent per year.

It shows some of the islands in the Windward chain experienced slow or limited growth with St. Vincent at 0.1 percent and Grenada at 0.3 percent

However, St. Lucia grew by 1.2 percent, making it the island with the fastest growing population in the Windward Islands.

The island with the fastest-growing population in the Caribbean is one of the tiniest: the Turks and Caicos Islands, which has seen an average annual growth of 4.5 percent from 2000 to 2012.

The Cayman Islands followed with an average annual growth rate of 2.7 percent for the time period.

Two US territories were the only populations that saw negative growth — Puerto Rico, with -0.3 percent population growth over the period, and the US Virgin Islands, also at -0.3 percent.

Other islands with slow population growth are Cuba at 0.1 percent per year, Barbados at 0.5 percent and Trinidad at 0.4 percent.

See full report on population growth in the Caribbean below.

population

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114 Comments

  1. dembow
    November 20, 2013

    article is not truthful, because we used to have 40,000 thousand voters in 2000 and now 100,000 in 2014/15

  2. SD
    November 20, 2013

    My Friends, is there any issue (Any) for which the government is not blamed? Can’t we have a logical and open debate without the blame element of the government? And do you really beleive that the birtrate or any other issue would be so much drastically different under another regime? Honestly?
    I am Dominica, and I live in the UK. There are thousands like me in the UK, USA, Canada etc. Dominica face many issues, and not all of it can be solved by any government.
    On the one hand the native population is low because of the lack of opportunities avialable (and yes to some extent the government can help)But don’t melighn those that have left because were it not for the thousands abroad like myself sending money home every single month the the improvements that have taken place in DA would ever have happened. The UN itself once said that was this not the case Dominica would be a failed state. A fact seldom acknowledged by those leaving in DA, and those who do return either to remain or visit are often made to feel like they don’t belong. Our island is unique in its topagraphy which creates many difficulties. We must always keep this in mind. Take a look at China, India etc…at one stage their population flocked abroad too, but the money they were sending home enabled those countries to grow. Look at Europe, The East Europeans are flocking in Thousands to the UK and other Western nations…not for the weather, but to send money home. My Mother in Dominica earns about $400 a month, yet her rent alone is $500. So how do you think she pays for bills, and food and transportation…that extra i send then feeds through into the economy. That’s income not generated in Dominica, but by the multidtudes that have left our green and pleasant land.

    • Cisco
      November 26, 2013

      They don’t know any better…Dom-in-a-cans are famous for carrying their ignorance as a badge of honor…now matter what you say that won’t change…sad but true.

  3. anonoymos
    November 19, 2013

    more people more mouths to feed leave us with our population how it is

    • Papa Dom
      November 20, 2013

      True dat, however it is not as simple a matter as you’re making out. How then are we going to provide jobs for this small and ever decreasing population? Should we rely solely on call centres? With a small population the danger is that the climate will not be conducive for investment, whether local or foreign as the customer base to consume the goods and services will be absent. So before making such simple statements please give some thought to the issue, ok.

  4. Rosie
    November 19, 2013

    Can’t we see that the country is diving down down down into poverty? The rich persons are becoming very very rich, while the poor ones are struggling for money to survive. I feel sorry for those poor young girls who have to be giving up themselves (moral values) all of the time to get something to eat. How can they go making more children?

  5. Plan Dominque
    November 19, 2013

    As long as this corrupt and incompetent government remains in office low population growth is a blessing in disguise for Dominica. Imagine given our high level of poverty and unemployment being accompanied with population growth of 5% and more, we would be in real shit socially and economically – things would be worse at the PMH for sure

  6. Serious Business
    November 19, 2013

    Government need to have an instituted to brovide incentives for childbearing…not handouts…For example…an allowance per kid…or longer maternity leave…This is serious business….There are a lot of young single working women who want kids but their money is tied up in mortgage etc…

  7. Cerberus
    November 19, 2013

    -It is important to note that population figures for a country include all residents, regardless of legal status or citizenship.

    – In 1982, thirty years ago, Dominica boasted a bigger population of 74,358 than the 72,969 quoted for 2011 (latest available figure).

    At that time we did not have an influx of Haitians, citizens of the Dominican Republic, Chinese, the number of foreign students & their teaching staff or non-native residents from Europe or N. America.

    – Over a 48 year period, from 1963 to 2011 we see a growth rate for Dominica of 16.2% (from 62,800 to 72,969) with only Grenada and St. Kits & Nevis performing worse in the region with growth rates of 15.2% and 14.25% respectively.
    By comparison, during the same period the populations of other Caribbean nations in our region increased as follows:
    St. Lucia: 78.5% (from 90,500 to 161,557)
    Antigua
    & Barbuda: 53.0% (from 57,450 to 87,884)
    St. Vincent
    &Grenadines:23.4% (from 84,174 to 103,869)
    Barbados: 22.9% (from 233,328 to 286,705)

    *Grenada: 15.2% (from 94,136 to 94,136)
    St. Kits
    & Nevis: 14.25% (from 49,607 to 50,314)

    (* Grenada & St. Kits already mentioned earlier)

    NB. A useful source for statistical data like these is Nationmaster.com

  8. Pedro
    November 19, 2013

    The people cannot afford to have babies when they have to beg at the red clinic to survive.

  9. 100% Dominican
    November 19, 2013

    Garcon that is what Skerro wants to hear! Train some young people by giving them ‘scholarships’. They then become hardcore supporters along with their parents. They come back home but there is no work so they leave for foreign lands leaving that gap in numbers. Those who have not had the scholarships and feel that they are tired of looking for work will leave as well looking for opportunities outside. Those who remain and have no work resort to crime. Population low……but up comes Skerro and he brings in Chinese, Haitians and Dominicans (Dominican Republic) to fill the gaps, giving them ‘concessions’, whether it be tax free, social security free or otherwise and so they also become hardcore supporters. Then he has those whom bought passports and can come and go as they please………then HE WILL BE THERE FOR ANOTHER FIFTY, SIXTY, SEVENTY YEARS!!!! look out people……

  10. Mc Carthy MARIE
    November 19, 2013

    This is kind of interesting. For many years now I have been a lone voice in the wilderness reading the demographic statistics and saying that our population growth is too low and in particular our birth rate is disastrously low. Since 2008 we have had less than 1000 babies being born and approximately 550 deaths per year in the same period. The only reason the population was considered to have grown at all is because of the population figures given are estimates rather than taken directly from the census. According to the preliminary results of the 2011 census the population fell by some 438 persons between the census of 2001 and 2011. The periods measured by the World bank and the census are slightly different and look slightly better than the inter- censal period which is one reason the WB figures involve estimates. The only reason the population decline was not more drastic between the census periods was because we actually attracted a sizeable number of immigrants – Haitians of course are the single largest group, but we have immigrants from all over the world.

    The interesting question is why births are now so low (in 1992 we had 1836 births and 2008 only 900 – less than half). My own view is that there is circumstantial evidence that the population’s ability to procreate has been significantly compromised by environmental pollutants and our government should make every effort to determine whether or not this hypothesis is correct.

    What ever the cause we need to know so that as a nation we can take appropriate corrective measures because a nation with little or no children has no future.

    • Papa Dom
      November 20, 2013

      I tend to agree with you, however I have to take issue with your view on the impact of “environmental pollutants”. While we may all agree that there is little or no attention paid to those factors, I wouldn’t say that we are in such a bad place that it affects people’s ability to procreate. What we do have in Dominica is a multi faceted social problem. The absence of a sense of family, with men, young men in particular not wanting to be tied to one woman. Then there is also the issue of too many women involved with men with other partners/wives so they do not want to get pregnant for these men. When you add those factors to the mass migration caused by a desire to seek greener pastures, then the problem becomes worse.

    • Mur
      November 20, 2013

      By the time the geothermal finish with us there will be 0 babies born. More pollution.

  11. BRAIN DAMAGE
    November 19, 2013

    A lot of Dominicans migrated to the French Islands and Antigua just after hurricane David. Life became very hard after the disaster. The people did not return and it continued on that trend that people leave by flocks…. up to this day. Also the treatment of present and past Govt. contributed to lots of migration.
    Thus our population is affected tremendously.
    Our ratio man to woman: 2:1 ……leads to more gays and less babies.

  12. ROSEAU VALLEY
    November 18, 2013

    Factors and consequences

    1.Tough economic times: As the economy get worse over time, people wise up and have less children. Unlike China which once had a 1 child per family policy, in Dominica, this is a matter of choice dictated by the response to the current tough economic reality in the country and the lack of hope of the people;

    2. High infant mortality: We have heard Tavernier making that point over the last few weeks. There have had many reports of “still births”/dead babies at PMH;

    3. No return from the Princess direct to gentle rest: Many locals will tell you once you go to PHM, there is a high risk that you won’t return home. The Heath Care system is cause for concern;

    4. Dominicans travel to the US to have their babies. Even the PM’s next baby will be born in NJ/USA. Senior council son is an American;

    5. College studies/ Marriages: Many of the kids who are born in the US return to the US when they reach college age. In fact, many young Dominicans who travel to the US may marry for Green Card or other reason (love) and do not return. Can’t blame them!

    6. Better employment /career opportunities: Dominica has a real brain drain problem. Our educated folks are running away from Dominica for better opportunities. In fact, even skilled and unskilled Dominicans are seeking better opportunities elsewhere;

    7. The per capita: Government cannot claim that Dominicans are doing well because of our relatively high per capita ratio. This is not an indicator of how well Dominica is doing economically. The economic indicator is relatively high not because of increased economic activity or increased GDP but a declining population. It is not because the country is doing better.

    8. Domestic market: This indicates that our domestic market has been shrinking. Less population creates a weaker economic base for collection of taxes, payment to Social Security and this puts our retirement in trouble as there won’t be a young people to sustain the programme. This also means less consumption of goods and services- all negative factors on our overall economy and linked to the following story, “The 20 Worst Economies In The World [is Dominica] Business Insider
    http://www.businessinsider.com.au/worlds-slowest-economies-2012-10

    Respectfully
    Roseau valley

  13. Looking in
    November 18, 2013

    Dominica has the same population from since I know myself.
    I am sure if a survey was done, the results would show there are more Dominicans out of Dominica than in.

  14. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    I don’t know about all those comments. I just want to hear what the Government Press Sec has to say on that report.

  15. D A
    November 18, 2013

    So what? where the heck we going to put them on the mountain.

  16. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    Maybe Dominican women are recognising that you can’t hold on to a man by having babies with him. Dominican men too irresponsible. Girls, don’t give those men any children unless you have that ring on your finger.

  17. zammy
    November 18, 2013

    Tell the government to deny or put forward defence to this report…… But it seems we like it so, slow is the way to go. Since this government has been doing nothing and folsk keep voting them well we like it sooooooooooooo……. I suspect No more dollars from venuezuala and friendly government as in times past…….

  18. Zozyo Ministry
    November 18, 2013

    Even if made in America Tony can so domir ni can make too. The only thing is gel fan obligais mangais mem ci se red clinic milk and diaper the baby get- is so we like it

  19. Big Cocot
    November 18, 2013

    Me papa if those who suppose to be the most responsible are making their kids in America while they sitting in government me big Cocot making my children in America to wi papa – the heck with that let them Chinese populate Dominica they the ones with the jobs and opening businesses.

  20. Lang Mama
    November 18, 2013

    Things are bad – no money no love , no kool pipe breeding on the down low. Everything is upside down even coitus gone south.

  21. FAST N FURIOUS
    November 18, 2013

    There are some so called patriots liming from coast to coast now maybe they will help speed up the population growth rate.

  22. yes sa
    November 18, 2013

    always complaining d country hard and there r kids with 2 cell phones, awa wi domnichean

  23. IluvmyPm
    November 18, 2013

    How can we make children in this hard country I can barely feed myself!!

  24. Jbfox
    November 18, 2013

    Migration has a lot to do with that the area where am from in Dominica about 90 percent of the young people living there in migrated in the late eighties early nineties and that’s bad for economic growth.

  25. November 18, 2013

    Well people, time to do it like rabbits :-D

  26. Lookit
    November 18, 2013

    Too much BUGGERization and ZAMIErization, thats all.

  27. Shameless
    November 18, 2013

    Well at least that should tell Skerro there is NO need for us to adopt mother China’s ONE CHILD POLICY again… :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Bu Change Must Come and that time is quickly approaching.

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  28. A Observer
    November 18, 2013

    too much migration, Plus if a pregnant woman has a US visa, she will most likely have her baby in the US.

  29. Santa Claus
    November 18, 2013

    That is simply because too many Dominicans have lost hope and do not want their babies born in this mess. In fact when the nations Prime Minister has no hope in a country he leads and has been leading for some nine years, what should others do? The man chose to give birth to his first child with his wife in the USA. What does that say to others? So I can understand why our growth population is slow. When husband and Pm is ….citizen, wife Canadian and baby is American, how does one expect to grow? So those blind Dominicans that shouting ‘Skerrit’ all over need to understand that he is not planning on a future in the mess he has created and will continue to get worse as long as he remains as to lead us. Too late shall be our cry.

  30. wat
    November 18, 2013

    to much birth control pill :cry:

    • side eyes
      November 18, 2013

      And AB…

    • One Love
      November 19, 2013

      The “MORNING AFTER” is murdering our future

  31. innocence
    November 18, 2013

    well with the rate those nurses and doctors going that’s expected. to many innocent babies are dying during labor and delivery…some many stories of babies staying too long in birth canal among others reasons. Pure negligence in that hospital, our medical professionals need to show some more efficiency in what they do.these doctors wanna stay in their office whole day to make their money and by time they reach it’s late. ALso monitors thats suppose to keep check of unborn babies are faulty. I believe the govt needs ot step in and do something. this is just too ridiculous. I have had my experience so i can speak.it’s just to sad…

    • side eyes
      November 18, 2013

      You are talking like a nurse or Dr, meaning that you know what yu are talking about because you do the same. On other hand, Nurse/Dr. remember that most of those baby dying in the birth canal as you mentioned have gone through a lot. you were not able to evacuate them and their path was long so by the time you reach labor, that unborn child could not handle it anymore and that ends his/her journey. So Mr/Mrs/Ms. innocence, stop chemical,,,stop messing up you body function with Birthcontrol pills and accept what you get and the nurse/do their part.” if you didn’t want a child, you didn’t have to do what gives a child” The Nurse/Dr connot pull the child out of the birth canal unless it has to be.
      Moreover, you should go and study Nursing or Medicine to come and show the difference.

    • Tetemoren I from..
      November 19, 2013

      I went home and saw some of the “nurse” they have employed, and boy, was I shocked! A bunch of dunce cats who could not even pass Common Entrance are nurses. You can see by the way they carry themselves that, they, still, know nothing. Imagine all of them allowing people and babies to die from mickey mouse issues. Sad. Nuff said.

      Doh give me maypwis, my opinion here

    • Positive vibration
      November 19, 2013

      And people want to say that there is no democracy, no freedom in Dominica! Wapapa!!!! The kind of things that people say right here on DNO and other places, about the Prime Minister, the Goverment and Dominica. They hate the Prime Minister so much that they do not care how they portray Dominica to the outside world. Come on now, the reason for our low population is because babies are being being killed in the hospital!!!! It is hurtful to see how people can bring down their country in the eyes of the world for their own selfish reasons.

    • innocence
      November 20, 2013

      All i will say is until you or a family member goes through it you will never truly understand.

  32. forreal
    November 18, 2013

    perplexing reports the world bank keep throwing at us,the bottom line here is,the world bank is a lending agency,the bigger your population,the more consumers,that means you borrow more,you have a bigger turn over,so this types of reports,reflect one thing,the world bank is not getting the type of returns they would like to see,their reports on the caribbean has been negative,especially dominica,which the haters take and run with,here is the thing,we are a people which has sufferd many political setbacks,and for many uneducated people here,accept it or not,do not seem to understand that,because all their lives,they have only known one thing,and that is,who is a freedomrite,a labourite,a uwprite,even MND,movement for a new dominica,and they never saw the bigger picture,like development,expansion, population growth,open up to outside investment,the whole criteria was pa kitou yo pou domnic houd nou,but that was never the issue really,it was simply political power,all these reports,lead up to one thing,what they can manipulate from less developed countries in the region who are actaully coming from behind,thanks to the branded enemys of the unitedstates,dominica has maid some strides,and can make a lot more if time and patience is exibited here,what has the world bank and the IMF done for us,besides debt and restrictions,their reports has been negative towards us,because they are seeing their interest dwindling,when skerrit needed help,they gave him a negative,that is why he turned to other sources,like china,venezuela and so though,so what does the worldbank and IMF want from us,they keep mentioning the US virgin islands and puerto rico,this teritories do not borrow money from any of them,these teritories are federally funded,so why all this reports,this people are the illuminati,they are only looking for their own interest,by trying to confuse our people.

    • Santa Claus
      November 18, 2013

      @ forreal, as usual play the spin and twist game and blame everybody for this unfavorable report. I see you blaming the world bank, IMF, uneducated people, political setbacks and all your excuses. But the fact of the matter is, while according to you, Skerrit had to run to China, Venezuela and other dangerous countries for help, what you failed to say is, Skerrit may have mortgage Dominica to China, knowing very well that he is NOT THINKING OF A FUTURE IN DOMINICA as evidenced by the fact that since he became prime minister, he chose to take French citizenship, got married to a Dominican/ Canadian and his first child with his wife was recently born in the USA, where wifee was flown to give birth to baby. You know what, while you all continue to watch him do all kinds of foolishness to our beloved country, he himself by choice is not thinking of a future in Dominica. Keep making excuses my friend and good luck!

  33. Peeping Tom
    November 18, 2013

    It is time to breed, my people. Wwere are the patriots out there? Breeding time!

    • greg
      November 18, 2013

      Even when you try to be funny no one loves you. You have made yourself the troll or should I say the village donkey.

    • Jay
      November 19, 2013

      Silly comment. They did that in Haiti and see what happened.

    • Tetemorne I From..
      November 19, 2013

      They waiting for you

  34. Onlooker
    November 18, 2013

    While ppl say there is no money to make children look at the stats of vehicles ordered from 2000-2013 and tell me if it will be at 0.2. Ppl priorities have changed and making children is not at the top of the list

    • Santa Claus
      November 18, 2013

      @onlooker, Don’t blame it on what people driving because Skerrit has how many SUV’s and he sent his wife to the USA to give birth. So the man does not have confidence in the future of the new Dominica he building and so are the people.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      you just can’t compare vehicles to children. you can do away with a vehicle once you start to feel like its a burden but a child, garcon you have no choice but to continue raising him or her.

  35. Thor
    November 18, 2013

    What u expect when skerrit child born in America?

    • .....
      November 18, 2013

      really?

    • Anonymous
      November 18, 2013

      Here they go again. Keep on blaming the PM for everything. What else is new?

    • Santa Claus
      November 18, 2013

      Thank you @ Thor. You have hit the nail on the head! excluding Skerrit who went to give birth abroad, I can think of four more of his top associates that are shouting “Vote Skerrit, vote Skerrit…” that flew the wife or girlfriend to foreign soil to give birth, which shows that they don’t have no hope for a future in Dominica.

    • Nice one
      November 18, 2013

      lol.

    • Anonymous
      November 18, 2013

      Why would Skerrit trust his child being delivered at PMH. Called Skerro what all you want, but he not stupid.

    • Jay
      November 19, 2013

      Do as you are told, don’t do as I do.

      Would it it at all possible that what our leaders deem good enough for the people they govern is not good enough for themselves?

    • Positive vibration
      November 19, 2013

      Stop hating!! But the child is still a Dominican!! I pray for God’s protection for this child. Please leave the innocent child alone. Toneh man!!!

  36. Objectivity
    November 18, 2013

    Folks – the WB is wrong. The growth rate is higher – the population growth rate is .02 because the emigrant rate takes away from the birth rate.

    The WB ignored the immigration rate. Births are higher than .02; we may have more born D/cans in the diaspora – than what resides on the island.

    Give diaspora Dominicans the vote. Also allow diaspora Dominicans to run for higher office in parliament, cabinet and the presidency. This would allow all Dominican talent and brains to contribute.

    We would not only get a better government but an intelligent and effective opposition.

    Just saying.

    • zulu
      November 18, 2013

      @objectivity, i would not flat out say the WB is wrong. They are talking about population growth rate. A population can grow from people being born, death rate and people being displaced (migration). If the birth rate is high yet still overall population growth is small then it means there is a very high migration rate or death rate but since the article did not say i would guess migration.
      For population decrease the same factors come in play and it just depends which is the leading trend. You have other factors such as infant mortality rate and fertility rate which it did not mention. What i would question is where the data came from and the acuracy of the data.

      So you can have a high birth rate, but if your death rate is just as high and migration rate is also high you can have slow or negative growth.
      hope that helps

    • Hi
      November 18, 2013

      Please note the article says the “annual population growth rate” not the birth rate. There are a few ways that population growth rate can be calculated, most of which begin with the current population size. It is not indicative of the birth rate.

    • Jay
      November 19, 2013

      Population growth is not only about birth rate. You also have to look at the death rate and the number of people leaving the island as well as others coming here to settle. Without the latter our population growth would be negative.

  37. November 18, 2013

    No money how can we say home , we must head away

  38. met yo
    November 18, 2013

    If the population is so low tell the World Bank to give us more money to increase our salaries and our economy, so that the poulation will increase. What happen the Illuminati or New World Order making a survey and statistic, already they are doing so in pharmaceutical drug, the food we eat and condemning our tradition way of eating and local herbs. 8)

    • November 18, 2013

      “the food we eat and condemning our tradition way of eating and local herbs” that is all on you. You did not know Mac n Cheese when you was growing up, no one forced you to eat Mac n Cheese. You can go back to your “traditional way of life” eat “local herbs”.

    • Malgraysa
      November 19, 2013

      Well Met Yo, if you want to be a member of that “bwa mwen” society and be stagnant go ahead. You want aid from the same people you despise? Good luck. I’d rather eat dry bread and keep my self respect.

  39. zulu
    November 18, 2013

    This may not be a good thing. Problem is as we get older and retire there may not be enough young working people paying into social security for pensioners. The program may become unsustainable.
    Secondly we need consumers for our goods and services and if there are not enough working young people they may have to raise retirement age by at least 6-10 years. Many businesses will close out due to lack of consuption. I have seen my village go from 10 small shops to about 3-5 within last 20 yrs because of drop in population. We are already seeing the effects and do not realize it.

    Slowly our demography and culture will change with the presents of haitians chineese and Dominicans as the start settling and making kids. That we may just have to accept. Can be good.
    Slow population growth especiallt when there are already not enough people can be a hindrance to economic development

  40. concerned
    November 18, 2013

    Why an i not suprised ???????…….Dominican femeles pop too many “Morning after” pills… HOW SAD ! ! !

    • November 18, 2013

      @concerned, if you was SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDREN the women would not have to pop “Morning After” Pills.

      Women ARE NOT BABY MAKING MACHINES. Fall in LOVE, have babies and NURTURE them without prejudice.

    • Yes I said it
      November 19, 2013

      Let them pop their morning after pill eh because is not on my account they coming and leave their children. plain and simple

  41. Josh Shaw
    November 18, 2013

    well I can see that the locals going overs to live and Haiti, china and Dom Republic doing the population some good, bcuz if not for them we would have surely been in that negative growth bracket.

    • November 18, 2013

      @Josh Shaw, did you know Chinese CANNOT have more than ONE CHILD per HOUSEHOLD, in China?

  42. Rastafari
    November 18, 2013

    People are too BZ watching TV, face-booking and playing video games, LOL!

  43. hmmmm
    November 18, 2013

    Well what u expect. People leaving like flies. Things so hard in the country. And those that overseas not coming here. Not even those that buy their passports.
    And don’t talk for the birth rate. One child is enough. Gone are the days when people making 6 and 7 children. Not in these hard economic times.

  44. Chobom
    November 18, 2013

    The issue isnt about birth rate.

    The issue is that Dominica is not attracting people to come to live in the country and can barely keep its own citizens.

    In other words its a developmental nightmare.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      We are not exactly making them welcome, are we? Returnees cannot bring a vehicle free of tax, they still have to pay excise while other countries, like the U.S.A. don’t do that. You can import your belongings duty-free incl. a vehicle. even if you are not a citizen. Dominica discriminates against non-citizens, and even those from Caricom if they are not also OECS citizens. They can not buy property as they like and must pay an extra 10% of the value of the property. Imagine countries like the U.K. or U.S.A. doing that to Dominican citizens? We would make noise from the roof tops and cry “discrimination” but it is o.k for us to do that here. But if you buy Dominican citizenship for big money you are free to do what you want, even vote. We well want foreign money, even from our own people coming back to settle but we resent them at the same time. Most people don’t want to talk about this in public but it must be said! we really have to change our attitude if we are to make progress.

  45. Doc. Love
    November 18, 2013

    Why does Dominica who people claim is number one in the Caribbean when it comes to beauty is always last as regards Governance, negative growth, job creation, and the economy. However, we are first with the largest Cabinet in the Caribbean. First when it comes to the use of the begging bowl. Not far from being first when it comes to crimes per capita.

    • Nothing soft.
      November 18, 2013

      Good observation.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      Belle visage mauvay chawakterre

  46. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    With so many of UR people flocking to the USVI I am pretty surprised this island shows negative growth.

    • Anonymous
      November 18, 2013

      sorry “our”

    • bbc
      November 19, 2013

      they are goin up to the states to make their children every parent wants a future US president

  47. Francis Chicago
    November 18, 2013

    That’s good news less poverty prostitution crime I have been in some over populated islands in the west indies prostitution crime is on the double.

  48. Country Man
    November 18, 2013

    With all of the passports we selling we still running that low – wow! It look like the passport purchasers are not residents

  49. Simple
    November 18, 2013

    The cost of living in this Island is too high. It is too difficult for parents to feed children hence the reason for the slow birth rate.

  50. Lily
    November 18, 2013

    Many people go overseas to have their babies so I doubt those are included in the numbers ..plus there’s that other reason why babies conceived are never born…

  51. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    Does that explain why USVI offers now considers offering us visa free entry?

  52. greg
    November 18, 2013

    Thank you Haiti and thank you China. The people in Dominica are impoverished not even kool piping that taking place; no money no love no kool pipe.
    We have one thing to thank the passport dealers and birth certificate dealers for.

  53. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    Even China have reformed its laws about that one child policy. So,now overpopulation is not an issue in the world…What a world. who can make, make…

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      I see your world view comment is not very popular. Not surprising since the detractors would prefer to take a single lens, tunnel vision, short-sighted view that gives them a con venient excuse to make the current government the scapegoats. You are absolutely on point in labeling this poulation issue as a global socio-economic trend and not just a uniqe Dominica concern.

  54. not surprised
    November 18, 2013

    with jobs so hard to get and money so difficult to keep who’s going to make children. In them bread and water days things too hard cannot put a child on this earth right now.

    • Jay
      November 18, 2013

      Oh, how comes we have so many single mothers then having to receive hand-outs from Mr. Skerrit?

    • icare
      November 18, 2013

      we are building bigger houses driving bigger cars eating out more than before and we only have one or two children

  55. hope
    November 18, 2013

    :lol: I am not sure whether I should be happy or sad. I will let the experts weigh in first… then I will add my two sense.

  56. Donna luegay
    November 18, 2013

    remember to strap up, safe sex is the way to go :-D

  57. Kenton langdock
    November 18, 2013

    That’s a good thing, more isn’t always better.

  58. Rule
    November 18, 2013

    The slow growth in population is a result of people leaving the Island. Bad economy, very low GDP,lack of employment, crimes and crumbing infrastructure all these are contributing factors that supports these statistics.
    We have to reverse these trends and stop the regression.

  59. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    People fraid misery. That is why they fraid to have children. Also the first chance they get, they flying to the States to return only on a vacation after they get their green card.

  60. Anonymous
    November 18, 2013

    Is that a good thing, or a bad thing :?:

    • icare
      November 18, 2013

      i dont know i only have one and he is 21 no more

    • A Observer
      November 18, 2013

      Bad for the economy.

  61. Stupid Me
    November 18, 2013

    This can’t be, we can’t have that, I’m gonna have to do sum ting bout dat, but I need to reload with proper shots, I’ve been shooting 2 many blanks (blank stare), can someone plz tell me how to load up my _unz with propa shots?

    • Malgraysa
      November 18, 2013

      Garcon, that has nothing to do with your cheap shots. Apart from a low birth rate, this can also be explained by our people leaving the island to go and try their luck elsewhere.

      • Stupid Me
        November 18, 2013

        Garcon, have a laugh and sit back, can’t you not see that I’m simply havin some fun at MY OWN EXPENSE.

    • C
      November 18, 2013

      next time jus wear a ‘shot’ pants and dat will do the trick. :-D

  62. JJ
    November 18, 2013

    well…..the way the world going now is as if children have to shack up with their parents longer than they desire. and seeing that unemployment is such a major concern…..I don’t think we mind at all the we have one of the slowest growing populations

  63. Malgraysa
    November 18, 2013

    Questions:

    – why is St.Maarten/St. martin shown twice, with two different numbers?Is isn’t it the same island? Maybe the are showing one figure for the Dutch- and another for the French side?
    – does the figure for Dominica include Haitians & Dominican Republicans settling here? If so our own native population may have been declining.

    • nice
      November 18, 2013

      St Maarten – Dutch spelling for dutch side
      St. Martin – French spelling for french side

      like duh..

      • Malgraysa
        November 18, 2013

        Nice, I know that St. Martin/St. Maarten is one island shared by the Dutch and French as has been the case for hundreds of years. My question is why the two different population growth figures?

    • Anonymous
      November 18, 2013

      They did research as two separate side that’s why….they obviously didn’t do it as a whole… since one side belongs to the dutch and the other is french….

      • November 18, 2013

        They are two different countries :-D

  64. Domnichen
    November 18, 2013

    We like it like that!

  65. ,,,,,,,,,
    November 18, 2013

    Hmmmm

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